1. Gregory Nelson

4. David Guttenfelder

5. LoonWatch

6.  Brief history of LoonWatch  Loon Rangers Annual lake monitoring Wisconsin loon population survey

9. Ginger Gumm / Daniel Poleschook

10. Current Range Historical Southern Limit Past and Present Common Loon Breeding Range in North America

11. Distribution of Loons Breeding in Wisconsin Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas project, 1995-1999

12. Shoreline Development Shoreline Development Loss of Habitat Loss of Habitat

13. Water Clarity Darwin Long

14. Recreation

15. Predators

16. A program of the

17. Annual Lake Monitoring

18. Program Goals Ginger Gumm / Daniel Poleschook  Document how individual lakes are used by Common Loons  Identify critical loon habitat  Monitor loon reproduction  Engage volunteers in protection of loons and their lake habitats  Increase public awareness through volunteer outreach

27. Year Volunteer Participation 1978-2003 Volunteer Participation 1978-2003

28. How accurate are volunteer collected data? To answer this question, LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR biologists surveyed the same 81 lakes for loon reproduction outcomes between 1991-1994.

29. LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR concurred on: 98% of reports for # territorial pair present

30. LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR concurred on: 98% of reports for # territorial pair present 90% of reports for # nest attempts

31. LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR concurred on: 98% of reports for # territorial pair present 90% of reports for # nest attempts 85% of reports for # chicks hatched

32. LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR concurred on: 98% of reports for # territorial pair present 90% of reports for # nest attempts 85% of reports for # chicks hatched 87% of reports for # chicks fledged

33. Conclusions  In the sample of 81 lakes, LoonWatch volunteer surveys produced results comparable to that of trained WDNR biologists surveying each lake 4-6 times annually to document Common Loon productivity.  LoonWatch Annual Lake Monitoring Program provides an efficient, cost effective index of Common Loon productivity in Wisconsin. (Meyer & Daulton 1995)

38. Speakers’ Bureau Speakers’ Bureau

39. Ginger Gumm / Daniel Poleschook

40. Estimating Wisconsin’s Common Loon population: A one-day volunteer survey conducted every five years Ginger Gumm / Daniel Poleschook

41. How do we do it?  243 lakes are randomly selected from 27 northern Wisconsin counties  Volunteers are recruited to cover as many lakes as possible  Volunteers survey lakes for loon adults and chicks one day in mid-July between 5 and 10 am

43. Population Estimates of Adult Common Loons in Wisconsin Population Estimates of Adult Common Loons in Wisconsin

44. Population Estimates of Common Loon Chicks in Wisconsin Population Estimates of Common Loon Chicks in Wisconsin

45. Next loon population survey: July 2005

46. Gregory Nelson

47. Northern Native Plant Propagation Project

48. Timber Wolf Alliance Timber Wolf Alliance